Cord set for christmas tree lights



March 8, 138. c. BARKES CORD SET FOR CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS Filed April 29, 1937 Patented Mar. 8, 1938 iuNrrso sim-rss .1 ears-+r ,verifies 7 Claims.

`The invention relates 'generally to the electric Alight cord"r sets,v and `n'iorewparticularly toV such 2 cord sets made up of miniature sockets and espe- Y cially intended and adapted for use in providing v 5f'decorative illumination for Christmastrees.

f Cord sets of'this character ordinarily comprise i a plurality of miniature sockets connected together inseriesby insulated electrical conductors, the end conductors or wires of a series of eightY or ten socketsbeing connected to atermif `nal plug connector of conventional construction.

l In the use of such a cord set on a tree, the loop formed .by the series of connected wires and sockets is usually p-laced around the tree and the 15 wiresl draped over and fastened to the tree branches so as to position the sockets and their associated lights in the most advantageous decorative relationship to the tree.

It is well known, however, that unless considerable care is taken inthe placing of the sockets as well as in the placing 'and securing of the intermediate wires, these wires constitute a harsh or non-harmonizing factor in the desired decorative appearance of the tree, with the result that there is required aconsiderable amount of later performed work and effort in concealing o-r rearranging the wires of the cord set. vThese 'changes or rearrangements often disrupt the decorative effect sought to be attained by the relative positioning of the lights on the trees, and they constitute objectionable factors in the work of decorating a Christmas tree.

In View of these objections, an important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cord set of this character which is inherently decorative in all of its major parts, thereby enabling the user to dispose the lights about the tree in any desired position to insure the maximum decorative utility of the lights themselves, and to employ such a disposal of the lights with assurance that the intermediate connecting wires will invariably enhance rather than detract from the decorative appearance oi the tree as a Whole.

rMore speciiically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cord set of this character wherein the wires intermediate the sockets have a decorative covering of tinsel or the like associated therewith in a relatively permanent manner, so that these intermediate wires constitute truely decorative elements which harmonize with the usual or standard decorations applied to the tree.

55 Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the vfollowingy description, taken in i connection with thev accompanying drawing, in

which:

Fig. -1 is a plan or side View of a cord set embodyingthe invention in'its preferred form.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental view showing two of the'light sockets of Fig. l and the intermediate connectingwire. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

VFig. 5 is a.' sectional ViewA taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4. y

For purposes-of disclosure, I have illustrated the drawing and will hereinafter'describe in detail the preferred embodiment of the invention, vtogether with one alternative form thereoi', with the understanding that I do not intend to limit my invention to the particular constructions and arrangements shown, it being contemplated that various changesmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In both of the alternatively usable forms chosen for illustration herein the invention is embodied in a cord set having a plurality of miniature sockets l0, each adapted to receive a conventional `Christmas tree light or lamp l I, the

sockets being electrically connected together by :i

wires l2 so that the lamps H may be energized. The sockets I0 are of vany preferred construction having an outer insulating shell with enclosed shell and center contacts (not shown) with which n the electrical connections are made. In each instance two wires i2 extend into the socket l0, one wire being connected to the shell contact while the other wire is connected to the center contact.

While the series of sockets l0 included in the cord set may be connected in parallel, the present embodiments show series connections between the sockets, and the wires l2 from the two end sockets I0 are connected to the two terminals of a plug connector i3 which is used to` connect the co-rd set to a source of current.

The wires i2 are, in each instance, of the insulated type, having a exible rubber sheath l5 (Fig. 3) about the wire, and a protective fabric sheath I6 about the rubber or insulating sheath I5. These insulating and protective sheaths are, of course, left intact throughout all of the exposed portions between the sockets, and between the end sockets and the plug connector I3.

The length of the wires l2 between the several sockets is preferably such that a cord set having from eight to ten sockets comprises a relatively long string of connected light sockets which may be draped about a Christmas tree to produce an effective decorative arrangement and relationship of the lights. In this draping of the string of lights it is desirable that the user be able to give his entire attention to the disposal of, the lights or sockets themselves without regard to the arrangement of thefintermediate Wires l2, rand in accordance with the present invention this desirable end is attained by providing a cordy set wherein the intermediate wires have, in relatively permanent association therewith, a decorative means which liarmonizes with the customary tree decorations so that the Wires, with their covering, constitute inherently harmonizing decorative elements for the tree. Preferably this decorative means is such that it may be produced -and associated with the wires in arelatively' l economical manner.

With this purpose in view I have provided a concealing sheath 20 formed from tinsel andarranged to conceal the wires intermediate theV sockets l0. The tinsel employed for thisY purpose vcomprises a plurality of iine metallic threads 2|, which could, of course, be associated with or `woven into the outer fabric sheath I6, but in the interest of economy and convenience of manufacture I preferto have the sparkling metallic elements 2| of thetinsel rst associated with a central thread orl cord 22 in` the customary manner as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5, andthereafter to associate these strings of tinselwith the wires of the cord set. This association may be accomplish-ed in any preferred manner which produces a shielding of the wires from view by the casual observer; and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a plurality of strings (three in the vpresent case) of tinsel are wound in relatively high 'pitch spirals about the wires. The ends of the strings of tinsel are secured to the wire l2' adjacent to the plug-connectorlS asvby means of a bendable metallic clamp 25, and the spirals are modified at each socket so as to leave the sockets exposed for the reception of the lights Il;

In the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 `of the drawing the decorative sheath is provided` by arranging several, in this instance three, strings of. tinsel parallel to the wires I2 and in lcircum- .ferentiallyspaced points about the wires I2, the

stringsof tinsel being held in substantially fixed relationship to the Wires l2 by a series of metallic clamps 2E as shown in the drawing. The clamps 26, as well as the clamps 25, may be tightened in the degree necessary to hold the elements in the desired relationship.

If desired, each wire I2 may be concealed by a separately formed sheath as indicated .at the right hand socket of Fig. 4; or the strands of tinsel may be continuous from end to end of the string of sockets so as to continue past each socket as indicated at the left hand socket of Fig. 4.

From the foregoing descriptionv it will be evident that the present invention provides a cord set whereby a Christmas tree may be decorated more effectively and with less work than heretofore; 'and this result is attained by simple and economically constructed means.

I claim as my invention: y

l. A cord set ofthe character described comprising, in combination, a plurality of lamp socketsga connector, wires electricallyv associated with said connector and with said sockets to supply energizing current for lighting lamps placed in said sockets, said wires being arranged to provide an elongated string of sockets adapted to be draped about a Christmas tree witha substantial spacing of the sockets along the string, and a. sheath of decorative tinsel xed about said wires so as to substantially conceal said wires intermediate said sockets.

2. A decorative device of the character disclosed comprising, rin combination, a plug connector, a plurality of lamp sockets, wires electrically connecting said sockets to each other and to said connector in spaced relation to energize electric lamps placed in said sockets, anda decorative sheath surrounding and substantially concealing said wires, said sheath being formed from strings of vtinsel wound spirally about and xed vin position on said Wires intermediate said sockets.

3. A Christmas tree cord set comprising, in combination, a plurality of lamp sockets, wires connecting said sockets electrically to each other, into an elongated string adapted to be supported abouta tree, said sockets being spaced substantially from each other along the string thus`25 formed, terminal .means associated with said wires toconnect said string to a source of` current and thereby energize lights placed in said sockets, and decorative means permanently associated with said wires and operable to substan- 'tially conceal the same, said decorative means comprising a plurality of strings of tinsel extending longitudinally along said wires and disposed at circumferentially spacedpoints about the peripheryof said Wire, and means securing said tinsel Ystrings to said Wires at longitudinally spaced points along the wire.

4. In a device of the character described, the v lconcealing means formed from tinsel and permanently associated with said insulating sheath to conceal said insulating sheath from view.

5. A cord set for Christmas treescomprising, in combinations. plurality of lamp sockets,.wires .electrically connecting said sockets in spaced lrelation to form a string of light sockets adapted to be draped about aV Christmas tree, terminal s means associated with said wires for connecting said string to a source otenergizing current, said wires each comprising a flexible metallic electrical conductor and a exible insulating sheath surrounding the conductor between said sockets, and decorative means disposed along the wires intermediate said sockets in relatively per-- manent association therewith, said decorative means comprising a plurality of elements formed withV an appearance harmonizing with standard Christmas tree decorations.`

6. In a device of the character described,vr the combination of a plurality of lamp sockets, Wires electrically connecting said sockets in spaced -relation to rform a string of sockets adapted to be drape-d about a Christmas tree, said wires each Ycomprising an electrical conductor and a flexible insulating sheath surrounding said conductor, and a decorative concealing means relatively permanently associated with said wires between said sockets, said decorative concealing means comprising a plurality of shiny sparkling elements disposed along said Wires.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of lamp sockets, wires electrically connecting said sockets to form a string of sockets spaced substantially from each other and adapted to be draped about a Christmas tree, each of said wiresy comprising a metallic ilexible conductor and a exible insulating sheath, and decorative means disposed along said Wires outside of said insulating sheath, said decorative means comprising a plurality of shining surfaces arranged to substantially conceal said insulating sheath.

CURTIS BARKES. 

